Foal nutrition studies using indirect calorimetry.

This Major Qualifying Project (MQP) creates a working procedure and data application technique for indirect calorimetry tests at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Hospital for Large Animals. The immediate goal was to determine resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) values for normal neonatal foals. Our measurements have contributed to a pool of normal data and will be helpful in establishing baseline values. At Tufts, the ultimate objective is to compare these values to those from foals in the neonatal ICU to estimate the nutritional needs of the compromised foal